Longines Spirit vs Tudor Ranger (looking for a solid GADA watch)
It seems to me I've narrowed down my options for my next (GADA) watch to Longines Spirit (37mm most likely, but the 40mm was more or less fine on my 17cm/6.7in wrist with a strap) or the Tudor Ranger (2022 model).
Basically I'm looking for a versatile watch around 3k EUR with a good movement (chronometer, 70+ hours of power reserve) from a respectable brand. I like the both for various reasons, but I can only get one and I'm curious to hear your thoughts and maybe about the experience you've got with them.
Currently I'm leaning slightly towards the Ranger.
27 comments
Sort by
Neo Matik
Newly minted watch enthusiast (I got seriously interested in watches in late 2022). I aim to build a small collection (5-6) pieces over the course of the years. I'm mostly into Tudor & Seiko these day...
Member since
Last active: 2 min ago
6.70” / 17.02 cm
They're very different propositions. Depends what you want really. I can only speak about the Ranger in depth but have tried the Longines and think there's quite a chasm between them. Ranger does offer a great GADA option.
They're very different propositions. Depends what you want really. I can only speak about the Ranger in depth but have tried the Longines and think there's quite a chasm between them. Ranger does offer a great GADA option.
Yeah, I totally get this. I'm looking for a good watch that I can wear/use in most settings without having to baby it. That's probably why the Ranger has a slight leg up in my mind - it seems sturdier, while the Spirit is a bit dressier/flashier. I'm also a bracelet person in general and it seems to me that the Ranger bracelet is much better than than the two bracelets that are standard options with the Spirits. One final point of consideration - there are a lot of Spirit models out there (like BB's for Tudor), but there's only one Ranger. I like such focus in a product portfolio. :D
Yeah, I totally get this. I'm looking for a good watch that I can wear/use in most settings without having to baby it. That's probably why the Ranger has a slight leg up in my mind - it seems sturdier, while the Spirit is a bit dressier/flashier. I'm also a bracelet person in general and it seems to me that the Ranger bracelet is much better than than the two bracelets that are standard options with the Spirits. One final point of consideration - there are a lot of Spirit models out there (like BB's for Tudor), but there's only one Ranger. I like such focus in a product portfolio. :D
Ranger bracelet is top drawer. Quality is on par with Rolex Oyster equivalents. TFit as good as the Glidelock. Spirit can't compare. But that's still a great choice.
As another who bought the Ranger over the Longines I’d say the Ranger looks to me like it’s going to age better with some scratches, and I really just like the shape of the case better. The bracelet on the Ranger is another major sell point for me as well, and the accuracy and power reserve chip in too, to make it my choice. If I tended towards dressier clothes or wanted some polished refinement I’d buy the Longines. Adding I have an old Longines (away for service) that has that Polish and a similar look to the spirit made it an easy choice for me. They’re both great and I get the idea that the Ranger isn’t for all of us. Calling the Ranger’s dial spartan is an understatement for sure. It’s about as bare-bones as you can ask for.
Ranger. Pretty much the only Tudor I like.
I can only speak from the Spirit experience. Granted, I actually have a Zulu Time, but the bracelet is comfortable enough as long as you’re not hot and sweaty, and the stock leather strap with deployant clasp is one of the most comfortable things I’ve worn to date. Its 42mm diameter on my 18cm wrist fits nicely. I would expect the 40mm or 37mm non-GMT version of this would have the same bracelet/strap offerings and the smaller diameter would be even more comfortable.
The dial is just beautiful. I don’t really think it’s too flashy, but if you want to dress up once in a while, the applied indices and different layers of detail this dial has, is going to beat out the rather flat, drab dial of the Ranger. I think the only time anyone has noticed this watch, was by people behind the counter when I was shopping for other watches.
Longines Spirit is just better value for money and you can definitely get it under retail price with a discount. The dial is beautiful, you have got a few color options and a date complication which to me is important in a GADA watch.
Personally not a fan of the Ranger, the dial and the handset are not great and especially in person it was underwhelming for me. The dial just felt empty with a lot of space. I get that it is a tool watch and has a simple design but you may have a different feeling.
The bracelet on the Ranger is almost perfect, a perfectly sized clasp and T-fit system is great (even better than the Pelagos 39). The Longines Spirit 37mm bracelet is good, finished well and you have plenty of micro adjustments so the fit won't be an issue. Movement wise, both are comparable with the same power reserve, COSC and the only difference is 3.5hz vs 4hz beat rate.
If you don't mind waiting, Tudor will release their BlackBay 36/41 with their in-house movement and other updated features from the existing lineup soon, so it can also be a great option.
If you travel, I would take the Longines, on the 37mm. The date complication is lined up in the 6 o'clock position vs the 40mm which is position up by mm or two because the movement is the same in both. Also you will less like get robbed wearing a Longines.
Try both on , the Ranger surprised me ! I liked the Longines Spirit , but the Tudor converted me like a holy revival meeting took place at the AD . Which ever one you fall for will be a good watch !
Longines Spirit is just better value for money and you can definitely get it under retail price with a discount. The dial is beautiful, you have got a few color options and a date complication which to me is important in a GADA watch.
Personally not a fan of the Ranger, the dial and the handset are not great and especially in person it was underwhelming for me. The dial just felt empty with a lot of space. I get that it is a tool watch and has a simple design but you may have a different feeling.
The bracelet on the Ranger is almost perfect, a perfectly sized clasp and T-fit system is great (even better than the Pelagos 39). The Longines Spirit 37mm bracelet is good, finished well and you have plenty of micro adjustments so the fit won't be an issue. Movement wise, both are comparable with the same power reserve, COSC and the only difference is 3.5hz vs 4hz beat rate.
If you don't mind waiting, Tudor will release their BlackBay 36/41 with their in-house movement and other updated features from the existing lineup soon, so it can also be a great option.
I've been thinking about this myself, but I think the BB 36/41 have a bit of an identity issue - they are supposedly BBs and they share some design elements, but they are not really dive watches with a dive bezel.
Fair point, it depends on how much of a discount I can get on the Spirit (I assume something like 10-15% based on past experience). Never shopped for Tudors before, so I'm not sure if they do any discounts (I assume they don't).
If you travel, I would take the Longines, on the 37mm. The date complication is lined up in the 6 o'clock position vs the 40mm which is position up by mm or two because the movement is the same in both. Also you will less like get robbed wearing a Longines.
I do travel abroad a lot and that's part of the reason I've always avoided expensive watches - I don't want to attract unwanted attention to myself. Still, I think the Tudor Ranger seems very low key and I doubt the brand attracts nearly as many eyes as Rolex, Omega, etc.
Longines Spirit is just better value for money and you can definitely get it under retail price with a discount. The dial is beautiful, you have got a few color options and a date complication which to me is important in a GADA watch.
Personally not a fan of the Ranger, the dial and the handset are not great and especially in person it was underwhelming for me. The dial just felt empty with a lot of space. I get that it is a tool watch and has a simple design but you may have a different feeling.
The bracelet on the Ranger is almost perfect, a perfectly sized clasp and T-fit system is great (even better than the Pelagos 39). The Longines Spirit 37mm bracelet is good, finished well and you have plenty of micro adjustments so the fit won't be an issue. Movement wise, both are comparable with the same power reserve, COSC and the only difference is 3.5hz vs 4hz beat rate.
If you don't mind waiting, Tudor will release their BlackBay 36/41 with their in-house movement and other updated features from the existing lineup soon, so it can also be a great option.
At least in the store where I tried both Spirits the 37mm had a butterfly clasp with no micro-adjustments and the 40mm had a classic folding clasp with 4-5 levels of micro-adjustment. (I think the Zulu time had the same folding clasp as well) Perhaps they have them in different configurations. I don't recall if they had half-links or not.
I think the ranger is more of a true GADA watch and the spirit is a little more refined so maybe not perfect to go climb Mount Everest
At least in the store where I tried both Spirits the 37mm had a butterfly clasp with no micro-adjustments and the 40mm had a classic folding clasp with 4-5 levels of micro-adjustment. (I think the Zulu time had the same folding clasp as well) Perhaps they have them in different configurations. I don't recall if they had half-links or not.
When I tried both the 37mm and 40mm, both had the classic folding clasp. The older 40mm models did have butterfly clasp but they updated it too with the standard clasp now or probably have few configuration options. They do have couple of halflinks for the butterfly clasp style, is one thing I always check when I see watch with butterfly clasp or a clasp with few micro adjustment. The bracelet has quick release system so they may have few options probably. You get like 10% discount atleast from Longine, really depends on how popular the models are.
Tudor doesn't give discounts. The only Tudor models I ever saw with a very slight discount were from their classic lineup like Royal and all other models.
The bezel free dive watch style is quite a nice balance for everyday use. The BB36/41 is more of nice take on the Rolex OP. It is understated but works for everyday use.
I also gave myself a 3k budget. Also had considered the longines but ended up picking the ranger. At the end of the day the screw down crown of the ranger was the winning factor.
I concur.
Neither, wait for the BB36 to get the same T-Fit clasp and in house movement as the Ranger and get that.
I do travel abroad a lot and that's part of the reason I've always avoided expensive watches - I don't want to attract unwanted attention to myself. Still, I think the Tudor Ranger seems very low key and I doubt the brand attracts nearly as many eyes as Rolex, Omega, etc.
TFit clasp is excellent for flights when your wrist swells up (or at least mine does!).
Interested to hear if the results of the poll have helped you?
I have a Ranger and can offer that’s it’s my most comfortable watch in my collection. The bracelet is amazing, the case size is ideal for me (7” wrist), and I never feel uncomfortable wearing it, be it at work or doing woodworking in my basement. It truly is one that just kind of disappears on the wrist.
I really think the spirit is nice too, but I love the simple, all brushed toolish look of the Ranger.
And it pairs well with tons of straps.
TFit clasp is excellent for flights when your wrist swells up (or at least mine does!).
Interested to hear if the results of the poll have helped you?
The comments were much more interesting than the poll. Despite the overwhelming votes for the Spirit in the end I got a Ranger. It's so damn comfortable and I think it looks a bit prettier in person than on pictures.
In case someone's curious - after much deliberation today I got the Ranger on a bracelet. Time will tell if this was the right call, but right now I'm loving it and it's so DAMN COMFORTABLE to wear.
Thanks to everyone for their input!
Both are fantastic. But personally I’d have the Tudor Ranger
Love that people are voting Spirit!
I have both actually. It really depends on your taste. For me the Longines is a beautiful watch that punches well above it's price range. But to me, it is slightly dressy even on a NATO strap because of the polish sides. So for the ultimate tool watch and ultilitarian feel, the Ranger is the one. That being said, the Longines still wears very nicely on my 6.25" wrist. The Ranger is still slightly too large, but I owned the 2014 Ranger and I sold it because it felt too large after a while. This 39mm size is still acceptable to me.
I have both actually. It really depends on your taste. For me the Longines is a beautiful watch that punches well above it's price range. But to me, it is slightly dressy even on a NATO strap because of the polish sides. So for the ultimate tool watch and ultilitarian feel, the Ranger is the one. That being said, the Longines still wears very nicely on my 6.25" wrist. The Ranger is still slightly too large, but I owned the 2014 Ranger and I sold it because it felt too large after a while. This 39mm size is still acceptable to me.
Yeah, I agree the Longines Spirit is a bit dressier which is a feature or a problem depending on one's perspective. I still might get it down the line, especially if they make a smaller version of the titanium edition (e.g. 38mm). Normally I'm fine with 40mm (6.7 inch wrist), but Longines's long lugs are killing me.
Ufff this is a tough one. Both of them are amazing. Personally I think I’d go with the Tudor because of my style. Both of them are great GADA watches, but if you’re looking for a more casual option go for the Tudor, more dressy then the Longines is the right one